Lutfi Gilang's

3. King Sleeps

i

Tomorrow, unexpectedly, I came much later than usual. Half eight. Not intentionally, so I met the sender of the letter initialed RT, but because the road conditions are being improved, so it stuck long enough. Not intentionally, though!

I remember, that time the security guard and picket teacher were not nagging like before. They just looked at me sharply with an irritated face, and it was much more uncomfortable for me.

Next I got a really shitty punishment. Take absent all classes X through class XII.

Since the XII IPA class was on the second floor— above the teacher room, so I didn't have to take it. And, my goal back then was to first head straight for the XI IPA classroom.

Wh why?

It is definitely because IPA classes are famous for being the quietest students, serene grave goods times. However, indeed, asking for absences to the upperclassmen still has to prepare a big mental.

At about eight and a quarter I just came out of XI IPA-2. Suddenly something pressed against my shoulder from behind.

Somewhat scared and surprised, I ventured to turn my body. And, in front of me stood a man who was also wearing a full-sleeved scout uniform with a hasduk whose end was up to a third of his part slung on his left shoulder. He also holds a ballpoint pen. Maybe that's the thing he used to pressure me.

“Absen,” said.

I'm astonished, confused. Thinking stuff the time he's the guy I know. But the result is nil.

“Absen,” he said again by sticking out his hand.

 

“What do you mean?”

“Picket teacher tell you to come in.”

“Do not fret! I was asked to take the whole class.” answered me and passed.

But again my left shoulder was pressed with that hard object. Force me back to face him.

“Absen,”

“You're really satisfied?”

No words came out of his mouth, the answer I got was precisely the man swiftly grabbed the absent book from my hands and just passed it towards the XI class IPA-1.

“Hey, wait!” I exclaimed.

Instantly the teacher in the XI IPA-2 class came out with an angry expression. “What are you doing there?! There in!”

Shocked at once scared. I just nodded and obeyed his orders.

Really, right now, when I remember the incident, it makes me both annoyed and smiling to myself. Other than his sudden arrival, his flat tone and expressionless countenance fascinated me at this moment. But not in my old eyes.

 

Back then, I only thought of him as a very annoying bully. Keep repeating the same thing for the next week.

🌹🌹🌹

ii

For one week I actually felt there was something strange, which was: every time I went to class, the Sleeping King was always absent. Not that I was looking for him, but before the man came to ask me to be absent, he— who sat by my side— must have fallen asleep in class.

But now, the Sleeping King is in class, for sure, and it's always ten to fifteen minutes after I sit in my chair. And if I remember, both faces are the same.

That time, Thursday, after handing over the absences to the obnoxious man I entered the classroom and apologized to the teacher, then sat down in my chair. Then whispered to the student sitting in front of me.

“Gyan's.... Gyan,”

He turned his head slightly to the right side while watching the teacher who was teaching. “Iya, what?”

“Cowok sitting next to me, anyway, where to?”

“Although why?”

“Yes, I just want to know.”

“You anyway, keep late.”

“Iya, sorry.”

“Ya has lupain. Anyway, he must be a pass in the middle eight. And, S-E-L-A-L-U.”

“That's well, thank you.” said I closed the conversation after feeling the teacher knew we were whispering to each other with a cough that to me sounded very contrived.

Glanced at the man's chair. “It looks like you are indeed a freak.” Breathe in. I couldn't help my curiosity about him. So I reached into his drawer and grabbed something.

Put it in front of me. It looks like a notebook that has been given a sheet of chocolate and plastic as a protector. I laughed when I read the testimony.

Name: Ask yourself :-p

Address: Don't poke!

Grade: At SMAN Purwokerto

Maple : Lessons

Quite surprising for a book belonging to a High School man if weighed in terms of neatness. I think he's just like any other guy who likes to use one book for all lessons. Especially because of his habit of sleeping in class, so impressed very lazy. But my guess was wrong.

Open the book in front of me. I was surprised after seeing the words there. In addition to the writing exactly the same as the letter I received, the words written also made me shocked at the same time feel bad.

“King of Sleep, that's how you called me first. It is shortened to RT. Funny too, I thank you, Lutfi my idol.”

So, that guy was the Sleeping King, and he sent me a letter. Moreover, I did not expect, why did he secretly idolize me? I mean, it's not that I don't like being idolized, it's just that I don't understand why.

He always sleeps in class. So I thought he didn't know anything about me. After all, I also didn't do anything flashy like the other students. Ow hell! I'm getting dizzy with it.

For a while, his brain, mind, and imagination continued to dissolve in the light about him. But suddenly I remembered the sentence in the previous letter, that RT would meet me if I came late. And right, he did.

Wh-wh-what for?

I still don't know. So, right then and there I decided to find out why tomorrow was intentionally late. Yes, intentionally, really!

🌹🌹🌹

iii

On Friday in front of the UKS, I closed, steadying myself before heading to the Language XI class. A few days ago, he always came before I finished taking a break in the IPA XI class, but he didn't show up.

When I finally opened my eyes and was about to step up, he suddenly stood in front of me and said: “Basic Queen Absent, want to be late until when?”

Surprised and relieved, though somewhat irritated at his question. I mean, why would she call me Queen Absent?

 

Well, it's true that I'm too late, but what no other name is more subtle, like for example! Anyway, I don't like being mentioned by any other name. I already have a name, Lutfi Nurtika.

My mind just made contact on its own without daring to make my complaint. And at that time, I just asked: “Sorry?”

No response, he just kept looking at me.

“Actually, who are you, anyway?”

His face was a little confused. “Who? Kan, we're one table.”

I'm appalled. So the student in front of me is really/really the same guy I thought I was. He's a strange man who keeps bothering me when asking for absences, and he who always sits by my side with always falling asleep at all times, he's also the sender of letters initialized RT.

 

It was a little relieved after knowing what the person was like. Even though I still didn't know his name.

“Absen.” said as he stuck out his hand as usual, forcing me out of my delusion.

 

That day, I handed it over for free and then walked away. I'm pretty sure that in the past, he would have been shocked.

After walking far enough away from him I gathered from behind a tree trunk on the road near the cement-floored field, while observing the man. He seems unsuspecting. The man stepped towards the Language XI class, then went in and out of the order from 1 to 4. Then go to the stairs.

At that moment I realized, what he was doing was replacing my punishment. But, I still don't understand the reason he acted that way. In fact, I've been quite rude by addressing him as the Sleeping King.

I stepped into my classroom with a tightness in my chest. “Maybe I should say thanks before this bad taste bothers me.”

🌹🌹🌹

iv

In the classroom X-11, during recess. I was still sitting in my chair and waving to Gyan who had just moved from his seat to the cafeteria. Actually I also wanted to go there to buy snacks, but before that, I felt that there was something I needed to finish right then and there.

I looked to the left side, it looked like he was still asleep or something. I don't know, I can't see his face.

My heart was beating hard, for some reason. Before, I had never felt as awkward as back then. Long enough, but finally I said: “Makasih.”

“Hmmm.... make what?”

Hearing her quick response surprised me while raising various questions in my mind. Well, why did he answer? Is he pretending to be asleep or is he awake? Is it possible that he is quick to respond?

“Soalya you always replace my duty take absent.”

Greg!!!

 

The table moved suddenly to make me jerk. At that time, I was very sure that he was surprised because I knew what he was doing.

Long-wait. For a minute, five minutes, even seven minutes, I still didn't hear any sound from him.

 

Feeling annoyed, I again said: “Do not pretend to sleep!”

He answered her with a soft snore, making me ill-fated.

Immediately I got up from my seat, then stepped away in annoyance. “Basic King Sleep.”